2Know
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. KNOWLEDGE SHARED IS POWER MULTIPLIED.
May 2021
Hello Friends and Colleagues,

Can you believe it's almost summer and we are re-entering back into the world? Hooray! Remember those days when you made a summer plan of places to go, people to see, books to read, and things to do? Well, hope you are excited and looking forward to this summer as we celebrate Memorial Day.

Did you know Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day? It originated in 1868, following the Civil War to honor those who died in defending their country, and became an official federal holiday in 1971. The holiday has evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars, including World War I and II, the Vietnam War, the Korean War, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, to honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.

While we celebrate the unofficial start of summer, I invite you to take a moment to salute our military personnel and their families for their courage, bravery, and sacrifices.
“Lying, thinking
Last night
How to find my soul a home
Where water is not thirsty
And bread loaf is not stone
I came up with one thing
And I don’t believe I’m wrong
That nobody,
But nobody
Can make it out here alone.”

-Maya Angelou
Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Mei
REMINDER:
ACHC Standard Updates Effective 6/1/2021
ACHC releases annual updates to its standards and the 2021 updates are effective starting June 1, 2021.

Refer to the checklist below to ensure your organization has incorporated all applicable changes to maintain compliance with pharmacy accreditation standards.
For All Pharmacies:

  • Review patient's non-drug allergies prior to initiation of services.
  • Seek input from personnel and referral sources.
  • Temperatures for storage areas, refrigerators, and freezers and monitored, documented, and maintained according to USP <659>.
  • Documentation of cleaning and disinfection processes and agents used.
  • Medications are packaged to maintain appropriate conditions and requirements in the course of deliveries.
  • The organization's shipping system is validated by a third party or internal studies.
  • Patients are educated on how to store medications at home.
  • Pharmacists intervene to ensure appropriate storage conditions.
For Mail Order (MORX) and Specialty (SRX, SRXONLY) Pharmacies:

  • Policies and procedures define all types of communication services (including non-telephonic) utilized by the organization.
  • The organization has a method for tracking wait times and communication abandonment for all cost free methods of communication.
For Specialty without DMEPOS (SRXONLY) Pharmacies:
  • Patients are advised of their financial responsibility at or prior to receipt of equipment/services.
For Infusion Nursing (IRN), Infusion Pharmacies (IRX) and Specialty Pharmacy (SRX):
  • The organization has a process/plan for back-up equipment during power failures and malfunctions.
If you have any questions or would like additional information regarding ACHC standard updates, please contact us.
Oregon's New Prescription Labeling Law

Oregon's new prescription drug labeling law targets gaps in patient care by reducing language barriers.

To learn more, watch the Drug Topics three-part video interview series of Charles Lee, MD, Senior Director of Clinical Knowledge and Meducation for FDB.
Discusses what the law stipulates, the significance of this legislation, and the consequences of medication errors due to patient language barriers.
Describes medication challenges for patients with limited English proficiency from Charles Lee's personal perspective as a first-generation Korean immigrant. He also indicates progress other states have made in providing patients with translated prescriptions.
Focuses on the role of pharmacies in helping patients cope with language barriers in understanding their medication regimens.
Not seeing the information you want or need? Have any feedback for our newsletter?
Let us know, we'd like to hear from you!